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THE RIDE's Downtown Experience: NYC History in Virtual Reality

THE RIDE has been taking over the New York City tour scene, presenting riders with an entirely new take on the city that never sleeps. THE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE powered by THE RIDE is the latest attraction the innovative company has to offer, and it’s one that will excite the young and old alike thanks to some incredible virtual reality technology. If you’re planning a tour during your visit to New York City, THE RIDE guarantees a thrilling experience that’s filled with laughs, photo ops, and plenty of fascinating history.

The Downtown Experience

THE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE takes riders on a 90-minute journey into Lower Manhattan, providing them with uncompromised views of The Statue of Liberty, Battery Park, the South Street Seaport, and more. Adding to the fun, the new tour also allows riders to re-live history along the route through the use of virtual reality headsets. Serve as a spectator for such moments as George Washington’s inauguration on April 30th, 1789 at the very moment you’re taken past Federal Hall, the actual location where it all took place.

A storyteller guide also joins riders for this journey across lower Manhattan, not only informing everyone of famous landmarks’ histories, but also providing on-board entertainment while they’re at it. All of THE RIDE’s hosts are trained in improvisation, so you can also expect a first-rate performance aboard New York City’s only traveling theatre bus.

The Busses

Speaking of THE RIDE’s busses, they are patented, multi-million dollar motor coaches equipped with floor-to-ceiling glass windows. The seating is stadium style, meaning that there’s no bad views no matter where you’re seated. Adding to the overall experience, the buses are fully loaded with audio and video technology to amp up the journey as well as provide supplemental information regarding New York City’s history.

The Sights

While riding aboard THE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE, you can expect to see these icons of New York City:

* Ellis Island

* China Town

* Wall Street

* Federal Hall

* The Stock Exchange

* South Street Seaport

* Brooklyn Bridge

* Governor’s Island

* New York Harbor

* The Statue of Liberty

* Battery Park

* 9/11 Memorial

* One World Trade Center

* City Hall

The Technology

THE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE has partnered with TimeLooper to incorporate virtual reality into the experience. Passengers can re-live the most memorable moments in New York City’s history via a location-based platform that sends virtual reality directly through to users’ smartphones. The app is free to download and easy to use, and you can prepare ahead of time by downloading it onto your phone.

Plan Your Ride

THE DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE powered by THE RIDE offers tours at 11am, 1pm, and 3pm daily. As if things couldn’t get any better, THE RIDE will be offering a lower price all year round, so there’s no reason not to hop aboard this one-of-a-kind moving theatre for the tour of a lifetime. Visit experiencetheride.com to start planning your tour today!

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